Gary Branch (centre) running a 'Discovering the World of Grand Piano' event inside Coach House Pianos in New Kings Road
A remarkable piano showroom in Fulham can supply an unusually wide variety of models for a range of budgets.
And customers can now hear before they buy, thanks to the silky skills of pianist-in-residence Gary Branch.
Gary runs the store's regular 'Discovering the World of Grand Piano' events at the stylish art deco Coach House Pianos in New Kings Road.
As well as demonstrating some of the finest pianos ever made and listening to a lively history of the instrument's evolution, there are also opportunities to tinkle the ivories yourself.
Click here for details about their upcoming events.
Piano history
Gary, 56, trained at Trinity College in London. It's where he won such a hefty music prize that it paid for further studies in Amsterdam. And allowed him to develop a passion for early keyboards of the 1700s, making sense of many great compositions by Mozart and Liszt by playing their scores on the actual instruments they would have used.
Now he shares his knowledge of piano history via his musical talks at the showroom on Eel Brook Common – one of the world's acknowledged centres of excellence for the instrument.
"We're able to introduce people to pianos, using knowledge and experience to educate people about the best instrument for their needs, whether beginner, teacher, student or casual player," said Gary, who lives with his wife in South Wales, where the firm, run by the Rusling family, started life in 1985 in an old Swansea coach house... hence the name.
"With many brands to choose from, we can pick the best quality examples, whatever the price range."
Gary had just sold a very good piano ("The perfect starter instrument for children up to nine") for £1,500; built by Yamaha, yet lacking the magic brand name which adds to the cachet and bumps up the value.
However, across the showroom sits a grand piano in a different league altogether; an instrument covered in gold leaf and hand-built in a limited edition of 25, with a boggling price tag of £188,000. "We've already sold one," said Gary, lowering his voice in respect.
After his studies, Gary Branch grew into a gifted freelance musician and teacher. How gifted? For an example of exquisite playing on a truly great piano, take four minutes to enjoy Gary's skills here on YouTube.
For many years he worked at Finchcocks keyboard museum in Kent, sharing his expertise with visitors to its 100-strong collection of rare early instruments.
Now he focuses on Coach House, a firm which sources, sells and services pianos, and has strong links to leading makers including Steinway and Bösendorfer. Celebrity customers include the singer Katherine Jenkins and the composer Alexis Ffrench.
Art deco building
Coach House Pianos' 5,000sqft London showroom is housed on the ground floor one of Hammersmith & Fulham's most impressive art deco buildings, at 79-91 New Kings Road.
Long-standing residents still recall it as the former JC Brodie petrol and service station, built just before the outbreak of the Second World War, with its distinctive in-and-out driveway.
In 2006, it was converted into the Talisman interiors and antiques showroom, before becoming Coach House's London flagship.
Coach House offers an upgrade service up to five years after selling a piano, allowing customers to put 80 per cent of the value of their instrument towards a new model.
Events at Coach House Pianos
So how can you join one of the exclusive (limited to 15) Discovering the World of Grand Piano events? Book via their website, or call 020 8088 5858. The showroom is open Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm, and Saturdays by appointment.
The next 'Discovering' events are on:
- Thursday 2 November at 6.30pm
- Saturday 11 November at 3pm
- Wednesday 6 December at 6.30pm.
The £35 ticket includes a glass of prosecco and canapes. "I say 'a glass', but at the last talk they drunk us dry," laughed Gary, who was recently filmed playing the piano on one of Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys.
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